“The biggest differentiator between people who do well in a pressure moment versus people who do below their capability is perception of the situation. You have to befriend it.” - Dr. Hendrie Weisinger

 

Dr. Hendrie Weisinger is a world-renowned psychologist and author of the recent New York Times Bestseller, Performing Under Pressure. He has spent three decades helping individuals and organizations enhance their performance through his innovative applications based in clinical, counseling, social, organizational and evolutionary psychology. He’s a popular blogger for Psychology Today, Huffington Post, Execunet.com and Lifehack.org.

 

In this episode, Dr. Weisinger and I talk about the pressure athletes feel during and leading up to the games and how it impacts their mental health. Dr. Weisinger discusses the pressure from parents of athletes and how it differs from supportive parenting, drawing from practical applications from his book. He also provides advice and suggestions for parents who want to switch things up and for athletes who want to instill confidence in themselves. 

 

Resources:

• Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most by Dr. Hendrie Weisinger and J. P. Pawliw-Fry
• The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure: A Positive Approach to Pushing Your Child to Be Their Best Self by Christopher A. Thurber and Hendrie Weisinger
• Dr. Hendrie Weisinger’s other books